Very high heart rate at beginning of exercise

[ska45]

All my cardio exercises start like this : with a very high peak, and then they "normalise". The elliptical I'm doing the exercise on also measures heart rate, and it doesn't show the same peak. Is there a problem with the measuring? Does anyone else get this peak?

[USAF-Larry · Accepted solution]

@ska45, I frequently see the same peak in the heart rate at the beginning of working out on the Elliptical, but never worry about it because I know it is because I did not do an adequate warmup before taking off on the machine.

[Ken_Coopersmith]

Yep this is true, warming up should eliminate this. It happens to me when I am to lazy to warmup.

What the MD forgot to add to his reply above, is that, while your 💓 rate is elevated you are at a much greater risk for a cardio event. Exactly the same risk, that unfit couch potatoes face. 

Age and gender make no difference, it is critical to warm up, hydrate, cool down and replenish. Whether you are a marathoner, jogger or high altitude, high mile plodder like my self.

Have fun, but be safe.

😎✌